Silhouette Card

Happy Monday, my lovely friends! I hope your day is sprightly and sparkly. :o)

I'm sharing a card with you today that I made for a friend. She's going through a long rough patch and I'm of the mind that even the tiniest gestures can plant seeds of joyful hope. Ironically this card was born out of my own frustration with circumstances... but as is always the case, if you forget about yourself and focus on someone else, peace and determination return. With a prayer for the Lord's love and light to shine through this itty bitty gift, here's what I came up with. I can hardly believe I didn't use patterned paper or my Cuttlebug... but that's just how it worked out! Gasp.

Despite my valiant effort, I just couldn't get a photograph that truly captured the simple beauty that shines in person. One of the challenges I had in mind for this required the use of a Christmas cut in a non-Christmas card. (So perfect for this project, since Christmas is all things miraculous and beautiful.) I was all over that, let me tell you. It took a while for the right idea to develop, but I knew I had to use twinkle lights somehow. So I cut the Christmas lights from CAC and altered them into moonbeams riding swirls of divine guidance. I covered them with liquid pearls to give them the pearly, opalescent moonbeam effect. They lead right up to our moon fairy, who is nestled amongst the rhinestone stars, to guide her attention straight to my dear friend. With a flourish of fairy dust, she's already on her way to making Amie's wishes come true. :o) I pop-dotted the entire fairy section for some dimension, as if the swirls and moonbeams are propelling her onward. :o)

Regarding the sentiment, I rarely (if ever) use my own handwriting on cards. But it seemed appropriate here. I wanted her to see my penmanship every time she looks at the card as a stark reminder that I'm right there with her. The close-up picture somewhat shows the sparkles I dabbed over the three sentiments in an attempt to "illuminate" them. I also doodled and highlighted a bit with a sparkle pen around her sparkle-wielding hands and the stars. This final product is my third attempt at this card since yesterday and is a rather huge contrast from my original vision. I think I like this better... there's always a treasure to be found (and shared) when you let love guide you. :o)

Challenges entered:
 * Die Cuttin' Divas (use a Christmas cut for a non-Christmas card)
 * Frosted Designs (Color challenge: Black & White, plus only one other color)
 * Getting Cricky (Penned entries: use pens anywhere on your project)

I'm so thankful for your visit to my blog and I hope you leave here with a trail of pixie dust. :o) (I couldn't resist.)

Key Recipe Components:
 * Cricut cartridges: Create a Critter, Elegant Edges
 * Paper: Bazzill
 * Stamps: Fairy Moon: Floppy Latte Designs; Swirls: Autumn Leaves
 * Clear rhinestone flourish: Recollections
 * Ribbon: Stash
 * Miscellaneous: iRock, Liquid Pearls, Martha Stewart glitter (lapis)